It was 1988. I was working in Germany, and I had been invited to a gite in Loire Valley with my friends for our annual holiday. My wife and I both enjoyed a glass of wine, and the couple who joined us knew how to get a few more. This holiday is usually heavily alcohol-influenced. Even more so after dinner, when the brandy was usually out! I decided to rent my own windsurfboard instead of paying for the rental fees while on holiday. We decided against our better judgement to take the board out on a windy day for our first attempt with the new board.
Let’s see…
Although it was more of a process of setting up the rigging than anything else I felt that I was being catapulted over a mast four times before I managed to launch and stay upright. The board’s speed and pressure was incredible on my left ankle. It was like the moment I made a mistake and went straight downhill on my first red runs. The acceleration was amazing and I never thought about stopping. After a few more catapults we decided to call it quits and we degged the board before heading back to our converted barn gite.
We enjoyed a delicious dinner and planned to get up early for a day at the Loire River’s mouth. The next morning, I woke up to a throesy ankle that became numb the moment I added weight to it. It was so painful that Alastair insisted on taking me to Tours hospital. I think it was about a half an hour away. The doctors quickly put me through what I can only call the most painful 50 minutes of any day. They assumed, as I did, that I had sprained my leg. However, they could not find any sprains.
Let’s understand it
They pulled, they twisted, and they poked at my left foot. They finally gave up, shrugging in a Gallic manner as if that would be the solution to my problem. Alastair and me headed back, both feeling sore and confused. We had been given a few strong painkillers – I believe it was pethedine – and we were both able to get our feet under control. I flew for the rest of my day, despite being sore. The next day, nothing. There was no pain or swelling. Everything went back to normal. The rest of the holiday was a very difficult session of windsurfing at full speed against the incoming tide. This was followed by a motorboat inshore rescue. It was absolutely painless.
Three years later, I was back in the UK, and spent 3 months working on the house before beginning a new job. Just halfway through building the patio, my right foot started to hurt. It was a minor issue that I didn’t notice until my right foot began to swell. It felt very hot. It was very hot in the early summer of 89. I had set myself a goal to finish my patio before July, when I was due for my new job. After spending a few days in my unfinished patio and building rubble, with my swelling foot in a cool box filled with ice water, my wife forced me to visit the doctor. My foot was almost twice the size it used to be and I couldn’t bear to have a sheet touch it in the middle of the night. I felt very sorry for my self as I stumbled into the surgery of my lady doctor. I was in great pain. This was fine until she started laughing. She actually laughed at my giant, swollen foot. I was not seeing the joke and politely inquired what she thought was the problem.
Although I didn’t see the humor, I felt a tremendous sense of relief. I was at least able to name something that the doctor knew about. I was sure that my problems would be solved now. They were, to a certain degree and for a time. To treat the initial inflammation, she prescribed Indomethacin (an anti-inflammatory drug that is taken three times per day) and allopurinol daily to prevent the buildup of uric acid crystals. The Indomethacin was fantastic, to be fair. After just one day, my foot started to return to its normal size. After the two-week course, it was completely painless again and my foot was back to normal size. Since I had already succumbed to it so young, I decided to learn more about gout.
What is Gout?
Gout is one form of arthritis. Gouty arthritis, also known as arthritis in the joints, can be caused by it. Gouty arthritis is more common in men than it is in women, and it is more common in older men. Gout can also affect women and younger people. I can attest to this. Gout is a condition that affects approximately 1% of Western World residents. Gout symptoms are most common in the base joint of your big toe, which is approximately 65-75 percent of cases. However, gout can also manifest in any other joint. My doctor also informed me that gout can develop in any organs if it is not treated. Gout is caused by high levels of blood uric acids that form into uric crystals in the joints. Under a microscope, these microscopic crystals look like needle-shaped.
Gout is often regarded as one of the most severe conditions. These needle-shaped crystals feel like they are being inserted between your joints during an attack. These ‘intruders” are the body’s natural defenses. The result is an acute inflammatory response to the presence of uric acid crystals. Gout symptoms include inflammation, swelling, redness and stiffness, hot touch, and chronic pain. Gout is more painful than childbirth, according to a male doctor. It’s hard to believe that he could say this, but it felt like he was right at the time.
Gout is caused by high blood uric acids levels. But where does this uric acid come? The blood produces uric acid when purines, which are part our chemical structure, are broken down during the production of protein and energy. Purines can also be found in food. Purines are very common in my case, and especially in the foods that I love. Some foods have low levels of purines, while others have high levels. This is essential if you want to control your gout by diet alone.